Nasua Narica) in Southeastern Guanajuato, México

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Western North American Naturalist

Volume 75 Number 2 Article 13

8-21-2015

Range extension for the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) in southeastern Guanajuato, México

María Eugenia Espinosa-Flores Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, [email protected]

Carlos A. López-González Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Espinosa-Flores, María Eugenia and López-González, Carlos A. (2015) "Range extension for the white- nosed coati (Nasua narica) in southeastern Guanajuato, México," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 75 : No. 2 , Article 13. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol75/iss2/13

This Note is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Western North American Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Western North American Naturalist 75(2), © 2015, pp. 244–247

RANGE EXTENSION FOR THE WHITE-NOSED COATI (NASUA NARICA) IN SOUTHEASTERN GUANAJUATO, MÉXICO

María Eugenia Espinosa-Flores1,2 and Carlos A. López-González1

ABSTRACT.—We report the first photographic record of the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) in the southeastern portion of the state of Guanajuato. Although this species is considered abundant and widely distributed in México, Guanajuato is not considered part of its current distribution. Because of the lack of records in surrounding areas, it is not possible to determine if there is an existing linkage to other populations. Thus, it is imperative to continue monitoring this species in the region to identify and assess the connectivity of other established populations and to ensure the species’ long-term conservation.

RESUMEN.—Reportamos los primeros registros fotográficos del coatí de nariz blanca (Nasua narica) en la porción Sureste del estado de Guanajuato. A pesar de que ésta especie es considerada abundante y ampliamente distribuida en México, Guanajuato no es considerado como parte de su distribución actual. Debido a la falta de registros en áreas adyacentes no es posible determinar si existe conectividad con otras. Por lo tanto, es necesario continuar con los monitoreos de la especie en la región para poder identificar otras poblaciones establecidas y asegurar la conectividad que permita su conservación a largo plazo.

The procyonid genus Nasua contains 2 and mentioned the presence of recent records; species: Nasua nasua and Nasua narica (Wil- however, location data and type of documenta- son and Reeder 2005). The latter, known as tion associated with these records were not the white-nosed coati, is distributed from the provided. In another report, Villaseñor (2008) southwestern region of the United States into included the South American coati (Nasua Central America (Gompper 1995). In México, nasua) in an inventory of mammalian species this species has been documented throughout recorded in Sierra de los Agustinos of Guana- the country except for on the peninsula of Baja juato, but this record is clearly a misidentifica- California and in the central highlands and is tion because this species is restricted to considered common in the coastal slopes South America. In addition, all species records along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of México of medium- and large-sized mammals from (Valenzuela 1998). The species has been asso- this study were obtained only from interviews ciated most frequently with seasonal tropical with local inhabitants and from spoor (e.g., forests, pine forests, pine-oak forests and scrub- scats, tracks) without specimen-based, photo- lands at altitudes ranging from sea level up graphic, or visual identification of species. to 2900 m. There are 2 documented records In the present study, we conducted a survey of the species in northeastern Guanajuato to determine the species richness of terrestrial (Sánchez 2014) although compendium studies mammals in 12 localities of southeastern Gua- (Hall 1981, Ceballos and Arroyo-Cabrales 2012) najuato using 5 camera traps (Wildview TK30, do not recognize the white-nosed coati as part Stealth Cam, LLC, Grand Prairie, Texas, USA) of the fauna of the state. Furthermore, avail- per locality for a total of 60 cameras. Five cam- able records of terrestrial mammals from the eras were placed at each site with one camera CONABIO (Comisión Nacional para el Cono- in the center and the others orientated to the cimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad) do not 4 cardinal points, each separated by an average include the white-nosed coati as present in distance of 500 m. The activity period of the Guanajuato. Espinoza-García et al. (2014) cameras was 12 d with a total sampling effort discussed the potential distribution of the of 58 camera trap–nights. species in northeastern México, which included On 19 February 2014, we obtained 3 photo- a small portion of northeastern Guanajuato, graphic records of the white-nosed coati (Fig. 1).

1Laboratorio de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro. Av. De las Ciencias S/N, Col. Juriquilla, Santiago de Querétaro, México 76230. 2E-mail: [email protected]

244 2015] NOTES 245

Fig. 1. Photographic record of the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica).

Records were obtained in the municipality of We considered that the absence of records in Tarimoro within the State Natural Protected other parts of the region does not mean that Area of Sierra de los Agustinos, approximately the species is not present, but is more the 2.5 km from the community of La Concepción consequence of very few wildlife survey efforts at an elevation of 2015 m. Vegetation type at having been conducted in the region. Guana- the study site is considered tropical scrub, juato is one of 3 states that have the fewest with dominant tree species being Acacia far- reported number of mammalian studies in nesiana, Acacia pennatula, Ipomea murucoides, México (Guevara-Chumacero et al. 2001). Bursera cuneata, Lysiloma microphylla, and po- Such studies are especially lacking from south - choe (Ceiba aesculifolia) (Rzedowski and eastern Guanajuato, as greater conservation Calderón de Rzedowski 1987, Zamudio 2012). efforts have been focused on the northern Annual precipitation in the area varies between portion of the state (Sánchez 2014), particularly 600 mm and 1200 mm (Zamudio 2012). Other the designated protected areas of Sierra de mammalian species recorded at the site in - Lobos and the Reserva de la Biosfera de la cluded ring-tailed cat (Bassariscus astutus), Sierra Gorda. This is in part because of a trend American hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leu- to implement conservation efforts in forested conotus), hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura), environments (e.g., pine, oak, and oak-pine southern spotted skunk (Spilogale angustifrons), forests; Iglesias et al. 2008, Elizalde-Arellano eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), and et al. 2010, Cecaira-Ricoy et al. 2012, Charre- gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). These Medellín et al. 2012, Iglesias et al. 2012), were the only records of the white-nosed coati leaving other vegetation types such as tropical obtained while surveying the 12 localities. scrublands unstudied. However, these habitats Our photographs are the first photographic are important refuges for biodiversity and it is record for the species in this part of Guanajuato. important to monitor these habitats, especially 246 WESTERN NORTH AMERICAN NATURALIST [Volume 74

Fig. 2. Geographic location of the white-nosed coati records for Guanajuato and Michoacán, México. in this region, as they represent relict tropi- records of the species are located 165 km south cal deciduous fragments which are highly of our record (Goldman 1951, Núñez-Garduño threatened from the high rate of transforma- 2005) and 150 km north of our record (Charre- tion to agricultural, urban, and industrial areas Medellín et al. 2012, Iglesias et al. 2012; Fig. 2). (Carranza-González 2005, Zamudio 2012). Also, Leopold (1959) includes an occurrence Although the white-nosed coati is consid- record of white-nosed coati in his book on the ered the most abundant carnivore in the tropi- wildlife of México, but locality is not provided. cal forests of the Americas (Valenzuela 2005), Our record extends the current knowledge of the presence of this species has not been veri- the distribution of the species in Guanajuato. fied for the southern portion of the state of Because of the lack of records in the sur- Guanajuato (Ceballos and Arroyo-Cabrales rounding areas (Núñez-Garduño 2005), it is 2012) and our photographic records are the im possible to determine whether there is an first to confirm it in this area. Nearby known existing linkage to other populations of the 2015] NOTES 247 white-nosed coati in adjacent areas. It is possi- GUEVARA-CHUMACERO, L.M., R. LÓPEZ-WILCHIS., AND V. ble that the species has been extirpated in SÁNCHEZ-CORDERO. 2001. 105 años de investigación Mastozoológica en México (1890–1995): Una re - many areas of Guanajuato because the area of visión de sus enfoques y tendencias. Acta Zoológica tropical deciduous forest, one of the favored Mexicana (n.s.) 83:35–72. habitats of N. narica, has been drastically HALL, R. 1981. The mammals of North America. Volume 1. reduced from approximately 45% in the past John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY. 690 pp. to <10% at present (Zamudio 2012). It is IGLESIAS, J.A., V. SÁNCHEZ-CORDERO, G.E. MAGAÑA-COTA, R. BOLAÑOS, M. ARANDA, R. HERNÁNDEZ., AND F. J . imperative to continue the monitoring of this BOTELLO-LÓPEZ. 2008. Noteworthy records of mar- species in the region to identify and assess the gay, Leopardus wiedii and ocelot, Leopardus pardalis connectivity of other established populations in the state of Guanajuato, México. Mammalia 72: to ensure the species’ long-term conservation. 347–349. IGLESIAS, J.A., V. SÁNCHEZ-CORDERO, G.E. MAGAÑA-COTA, R. BOLAÑOS, M. ARANDA, R. HERNÁNDEZ., AND F. J . We thank Fernando Espinosa, Fernanda BOTELLO-LÓPEZ. 2012. Diversidad de mamíferos Cruz, and Socorro Tafoya for their assistance medianos y grandes en el Municipio de Xichú. Pages during field work; Robert Jones for the review 275–276 in La Biodiversidad en Guanajuato: Estu- of this manuscript; the local inhabitants of dio de Estado. Volume 2. Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad La Concepción and El Fénix for their permis- (CONABIO)/Instituto de Ecología del Estado de sion to work in the Sierra de los Agustinos; Guanajuato (IEE), México City and Guanajuato, and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tec- México. nología (CONACYT) for providing a graduate LEOPOLD, A.S. 1959. Wildlife of Mexico: the game birds and mammals. University of California Press, Berkeley, scholarship to MEEF. 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